The normal Cherokee’s headlamps appear to have been replaced by sensors, which also appear in a revised bumper. The lower portion of the grille is also rather different from current production Cherokees. Some wires are clearly dangling from the engine bay.

The rear of the car is the same as production cars. It’s possible that the pictured car gives some hints as to the next-generation Cherokee, but it’s more likely that changes were made for testing the new engines.

The Hurricane will most likely debut in the Jeep Wrangler; Alfa Romeo has a 276 horsepower version now, but the two engines are quite different. Alfa Romeo has a closed deck design, Chrysler an open deck; they will be made in different foundries; and their turbocharging systems will likely be different.

The Cherokee currently has a choice of the 184 horsepower four and a 271 horsepower V6. The Hurricane should be able to at least come close to the V6 power ratings, and may beat them.

David Zatz founded Allpar in 1998 (based on a site he had begun in 1993-94), after years of writing reviews for retail trades. He has been quoted by the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Detroit News, and USA Today. Before making Allpar a full-time career, he was a consultant in organizational psychology. You can reach him by using our contact form (much preferred) or by calling (313) 766-2304